Spinning apparatus



Nov. 16, 1948. P. R. POWELL 2,454,203

SPINNING APPARATUS Fi led Feb. 28, 1 946 4Sheets-Sheet 1 34 F. m [d INVEN QR. FZRFOWELL ATTORNEY Nov. 16, 1948. P. R. POWELL SPINNING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 28, 1946 INVENTOR F? R. POWELL.

FIG-.3

ATTORNEY 1 Filed Feb. 28, 1946 Nov. l6, 194s; P. R. POWELL 2,454,203

' SPINNING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet s I W TY INVENTOR P. R. POWELL.

ATTORNEY- Patented Nm is, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT *OFFICE SPINNING; APPARATUS Paul R. Powell, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Western Electric lommmy, Incorporated, New York, N-

a co por t on of w l ed:

Application February 28,1946, Serial No. 50,999. I

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to spinning apparatus and mare particularly to apparatus for sealing covers on cylindrical articles.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved spinning apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for sealing covers on cylindrical articles wherein the article is maintained ina non-rotati-vc position during the sealing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spinning machine for sealing dust covers on potentiometer housings which requires a minimum of supervision and manual control.

Inaccordance with a specific embodiment of the invention there is provided a spring loaded means for supporting a cup-shaped .cover in which a potentiometer may be positioned, a constantly rotating fiyer carrying a plurality of spinning members'adjacent to the cover supporting means, and means for urging the cover support? ingmeans downwardly whereupon the spinning members are thrust inwardly and engage the periphery of the cover so as to turn over an annular flange against a shoulder of the potentiometer housing positioned therein.

A clear understanding of the invention will be had from the following detailed description .of a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus form: ing a'specific embodiment of the invention in which portions of the apparatus are broken away for reasons of clarity;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal, sectional view of a portion of the apparatus taken along line2f2 .of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of a portion of the apparatus taken along line3-fi3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of the apparatus taken along line .4114 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is substantially the same as Fig. 4 e x.

cept that the movable par-ts of the apparatus are shown in their finalcoperatingposition, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional View of a portion of the apparatus.

Referring nowto the drawings and more par.- ticularly to Figs. 1 and 4, a motor 9 serves to drive a flyer l'0 by means of a V-belt l I. The fiyer H! is rotably mounted on a tubular portion 12 of a spring loaded support 13 by means of an anti-friction bearing M. An outer ring 15 of the bearing 14 is positioned within an annular groove l6 cut in thefiyer 'l U and is rigidly secured therein by means'of a retainer ring [-1 fastened to the 'fiyer 1-0 by a plurality of bolts lie-l8. An

inner ring IQ of the anti-friction bearing H is rigidly fitted over the periphery of the tubularportion l2 of the support l3 and maintainedin engagement with a shoulder provided in the upper portion 12 by means of a clamping ring 2| rigidly secured to the upper portion l2 by a plurali-ty of bolts 222-2. The ring 2| is provided with a shoulder 23which abuts against the inner ring of the anti-friction bearing I4 so as to leave a clearance space'between the shoulder 23 and the top of the upper portion 12 of the support l3, whereby the ring 2| serves to rigidly clamp the bearing [4 to the support l3. A leather sealing ring 24 is positioned on the periphery of the upper portion l2 adjacent to the bearing l4 and within the retainer ring It for the purpose of preventing the bearing lubricant from being thrown therefrom during the rotation thereof.

The support l3 has an elongated, cylindrical body portion 26 slidably positioned within a tubu lar support 21, which is rigidly secured to a .plate so centered in a ring 3|. The ring 3| is rigidly secured to a base plate 33 by means of a plurality of posts 32-42. The base plate 33 is secured to a top 34 of a suitable work bench, a portion ofthe frame of which is designated 35. The tubular support 2! is lined with a plurality of bushings 363G, which provide a sliding fit for the body portion 26 of the support l3. The support I3 is also provided with a plurality of rods 31-41 rigidly secured adjacent to the periphery of a shoulder 40 and extend downwardly therefrom through a plurality of bores 4l,4i provided in the plate 30. The rods 37-31 have their lower portions 42..42 substantially reduced in diameter thereby forming shoulders 43:43 against which are placed washers 44.44.

Springs .45-45 are positioned over the lowerportions 42:42 of the rods 37-31 between the washers 44-:44 and a ring 45, which is maintained in its respective position by means of a nut 41 mounted on a threaded portion of the tubular support 21. The springs -45 serve to resiliently support the support 13 and the flyer l0 rotatably mounted thereon. The support I3 has a circular plate 51 secured on the face of the body portion 26 by means of a plurality of bolts 52-52. By adjustment of the nut 47, the springs 45-45 are compressed and serve to urge the support l3 up.- ward-ly, whereby the plate 5| abuts the end surface 53 of the tubular support 21. The upper portion l2 of the support 13 is provided with a bore 55, in which is positioned a flanged portion 56 of the ring 21. The ring 21 is proyided with a bore :60, in which is slidably positioned a tubular body portion 6| of a funnel-shaped support 62 having a hollow, conical end 63.

A pedestal-shaped support 56 has a circular top 65 slidably positioned within a Wall 66 of the conical end 63. The support 64 is provided with a tubular body portion 61, which protrudes into the body portion SI of the support 62. The support 64 is resiliently mounted in the support 62 by means of a heavy compression spring 60, which surrounds the tubular body portion 61 and abuts the underside of the top 65 and a plurality of shims 59-56 positioned on a shoulder I provided on the inside of the tubular body por tion 6|. The relative positions of the support 62 and the support 64 are maintained against the action of the compression spring 58 by means of a nut II threadedly positioned on the tubular portion 61 of the support 54, whereby the top 65 thereof is drawn into the bore 56 of the support 62. The support 64 is resiliently mounted on the support I3 by means of a heavycompression spring I2, which is positioned within the tubular body portion 67 of the support 60.

The support 6 1 has a rod I3 rigidly secured in a central bore provided in the top 65 and extends therefrom through an elongated bore in the body portion 26 of the support I3. The rod I3 is threaded on its opposite end to receive a plurality of nuts 'I6l6, whereby the support 62 and the support 55 may be drawn as a unit into the tubular body portion I2 of the support I3 against the action of the compression spring 52. The space between an end ll of the tubular body portion 6'! and a bottom I0 of the bore 55 can thereby be adjusted to obtain the required vertical travel between the support 64 and the support I3. This adjustment of the supports 62 and 64 as a unit within the tubular body portion I2 .by means of the rod l3 and the nuts 16- -16 does not aifect the relative position of the support 64 with respect to the support 62 previously set by means of the spring 06 and the nut II because the spring 68 only has to overcome the sliding fit of the support 62 within the bore 55 of the tubular body portion H2. The top 65 of the support 60 is provided with a cup-shaped recess 80 for receiving a formed metal cover, such as a cover 8!, which is to be sealed on a potentiometer housing, such as a housing 82;

A ram 85 (Fig. 1) is positioned above and centrally aligned with the potentiometer housing 82 and the supporting members I3, 62 and 64!. The ram 85 is reciprocated by means of a double acting air cylinder 86 rigidly secured to a channel-shaped supporting member 6'! mounted on the base plate 33. The air cylinder 06 has a piston (not shown) positioned therein which is directly connected to the ram 65 by means of a rod 90. Movement of the piston and the ram 85 is controlled by a conventional, three-way air valve 9|. secured to the support 01. The valve 9| is provided with a lever 92, which serves to connect the air cylinder 85 to a source of compressed air (not shown) through its associated pipe lines 93-93. When the lever 92 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the valve SI serves to admit compressed air to the bottom of the cylinder 06 and thereby maintain the ram 85 in its raised position. When the lever 92 is turned to the right, the valve 9| serves to admit air to the top of the air cylinder 66 and thereby force the ram 85 downwardly into engagement with the potentiometer housing 82 and thereafter urge the housing and the supporting members I 3, 62 and 64 into their respective positions shown in Fig. 5.

A plurality of spinning members I00--I 00 (Fig. 2) are carried by the flyer I0 by means of a plurality of pins IOIIOI rigidly positioned in bores I02--I02 provided in the flyer I0 (Figs. 3 and 4). Bushings I03I03, having eccentric bores I02-I00 therethrough, are adjustably positioned on the pins I0i-i0i by means of set screws I05-I05. Both ends of each of the bushings I03-i03 are provided with under cut portions i06i06 on which are rotatably positioned an upper arm H0 and a lower arm IIi of the spinning members I00-I00. The upper arm H0 and the lower arm II I of the spinning members I00I00 are rigidly maintained in parallel relationship by means of a bolt II2 which clamps the arms H0 and III against an oblique cylindrical bushing IE3 (Fig. 3) by means of a nut II threaded on the lower end of the bolt II2. An anti-friction roller H5 is rotatably positioned on the bushing H3 and maintained thereon by means of a conventional lock nut H0 mounted on a threaded portion I20 of the bushing II3.

Each of the spinning members I00-I00 is provided with a formingroller I2 I, rotatably positioned on a pin I22, which is positioned in a bore I23 in the arm III] and a bore I24 in the arm III. Each pin I22 is provided with a pair of shoulders i25I25 which serve to space the arms H0 and l I I the proper distance apart at this point. Each pin I22 haspositioned thereon a flanged bushing I26, which is engaged by a spring I2'I positioned over the pin I22 and serving to maintain the forming roller I2I close to the arm I I0. Each pin I22 is secured to the spinning members I00-I00 by means of a nut I20 threadedly secured on the lower ends of the pin I22. Each of the arms IH Hi extends a substantial distance beyond the roller I2I so as to slidably engage one of a plurality of lugs I-I30 secured to the flyer I0. Each of the lugs i30I30 has an overhanging portion I3I, which, together with a shoulder I32 on the bushing E03, serves to maintain its adjacent spinning member I00 against spacers I23I33secured to the flyerv I0. The anti-friction rollers II5I I5 positioned on' the bushings II3II3 are inclined with respect to the pins II.2I I2, so that they make a line contact with a tapered bore I35 of an annular cam I36 (Figs. 4 and 5). The annular cam I36 is positioned within a bore I40 in the base plate 33 and is maintained therein by means of a shoulder MI provided on the upper portion of the annular cam A cup-shaped stop nut I (Fig. 4) is threadedly mounted on the threaded portion 50 of the tubular support 2'! and maintained in any selected position thereon by means of a set screw I5I. The set screw I5I is threadedly mounted in the wall of the nut I50 and serve to force a soft metal insert I52 against the threaded portion 50 of the support 21'. The stop nut I50 is positioned on the tubular support 21 so that there is a predetermined space between the plate 5| and the inner surface I54 of the stop nut I50. A circular guard I55 has an annular flanged portion I56 rigidly secured to the base plate 33 and serves to protectively cover and constantly rotating spinning members 100-100.,

Each of the forming rollers ,I2II'2I has an irregularly shaped periphery, which comprises a shoulder I60 (Figs. 4 and 6) formed adjacent to its upper face and an annular beveled portion I6I formed adjacent to its lower face. The shoulder I60 andthe beveled-portion I6I are joined by an undercut portion lBZ. The shoulder I60 arro ance rves to en age an, upperpontion or a flan e I66 of the cover 8| and thereby roll over a portion thereof to form an annular edge I64 (Fig. 6) against a shoulder I65 provided on the, potentiometer housing 8 2 (Figs. 5 and 6). The annular beveled portion I6! coacts with the beveled sur face I66 of the support 62 whereby the forming rollers iZI-I2I of the spinning members IOU-'- IOB are urged downwardly against the action of the spring I21, thereby causing the shoulder I66 to roll the edge I64 tightly against the shoulder 65 of the potentiometer housing 82.

The above-described apparatus operates in the following manner: l

The loading position of the respective elements of the spinning machine is shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Assuming that the motor 9 has ibeen energized, the flyer I6 is therebyrotated about the stationary support I3. Theflyer In causes the plurality of spinning members Int-406 mounted thereon to be revolved about the supports 62 and 64, whereby the anti-friction rollers II5I I5 thereon roll around the upper portion of the tapered bore I of the annular cam I38. Centrifugal force acting on the revolving spinning members serves to maintain the rollers I I5-I it in engagement with the ibore I35 of the annular cam I36, whereby the forming rollers i2-|-'-I2I are merely revolved about the support 64 without being forced inwardly by the annular cam. The

spinning members Hill-400 can be adjusted by means'of the eccentric bushings IIl3I [I3 so that each of the forming rollers I2lI2I will be positioned equidistant from the center of the support 64.

A potentiometer cover, such as a cover BI, is placed in the cup-shaped recess 86 of the support 64', whereupon a flanged portion I61 thereof rests upon a face I 68 of the said support. A cork gasket I16 is positioned on the inside surface of the said flanged portion I61 of the cover BI and a potentiometer housing 62 is placed on the cork gasket I16 (Figs. 4 and 6). The lever 62 of the air valve SI is actuated to the right, whereupon the ram 85 is forceddownwardly and engages the potentiometer housing 82;. As its downward stroke continues, the ram forces the support 64 and the support 62 downwardly as a unit against the action of the compression spring I? until the surface I! of the support 64 abuts the surface 76 of the support I3. During this portion of the stroke of the ram 85, the support I3 is maintained in a stationary position because the plurality of compression springs -4-5 exert a greater force against movement than does the single compres sion spring '12.

When the end "I? of the :body portion 6'! abuts the surface 160i the support l3; the potentiom pered bore I of the annular cam I 36. The spin,

ning members I66'l6 il re maintained in the taperedibore i323 during the downward movement therein by means of the overhanging portion IH3I o th this .3 ii; t shoulder f? p oYisitbl' 0.

the bushing I63. Due to the fact that the rollers II 5II5 are now travelling around a smaller diameter of the tapered bore I35, the spinning members I66,I66 are rotated inwardly about, the bushings I 63 I63, whereby their respective forming rollers I2II2I are forced into engagement with the flange I63 of the potentiometer cover 81. The forming rollers I-2I-,-.-I2l now roll I around the periphery of the flange I63, and the shoulder I thereof serves toturn over the am nular edge I64 of the cover against the shoulder I65 on the potentiometer housingBZ. At the same time the annular bevel I6I provided on the f0rm= ing rollers l2I--I2| engages the annular bevel I66 of the support 62 and the forming roller is therebyurged downwardly, whereby the shoulder I68 is pressed hard against the turned-over edge lBfl (Figs. 5 and 6).' The downward movement of the forming rollers 12 I-I2I caused by the coaction of the beveled surfaces I6I and I63 is permitted by the compression spring I2! positioned betweenthe forming rollers I2'II2I and the lower arm I I I of the spinning members IOU-I06. However, due to dimensional variations existing in the cover 6I, the cork gasket I10 and the shoulder I65, the forming rollers I2II2I may completely turn over the annular flange I64 before the support I3 completes its full travel. When this condition occurs, the coaction of the beveled surfaces WI and I66, due to the inward travel of the spinning members IBIL-IIJU, causes the support 62 to be lifted up against the action of the spring 68, thereby preventing the forming rollers from scoring the annular flange I64 ofthe cover 8|.

When the ram has caused the plate 5| to engage the surface I54 of the stop nut I56 further downward travel of the ram 85 is prevented, and the spinning operation which seals the cover 8| on the potentiometer housing 82 is completed. The lever 92 of the air valve 9| is now returned to its vertical position (Fig; 1'), whereupon the ram 63' returns to its normal starting position. The springs 4545 and the spring I2 serve to return the flyer In, the support I3,'the support 62, the support 64 and the potentiometer housing 82 to their respective loading positions, The finished potentiometer then may be removed from the support 64 and another cover, gasket and potentiometer may be placed thereon and the cover secured in place by the spinning operation described above.

While directed particularly to sealing metal covers on potentiometer housings, the invention is generally applicable to a wide range of spine ning operations, products, and apparatus, and therefore is, to @be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l Spinning apparatus, comprisingmeans for resiliently supporting a circular cover which is, to be sealed on a cylindrical article, a fiyer TO: ata moun e on t s p o a o b therewith, means for constantly revolving said flyer, a plurality of. arms pivotally mounted on said flyer, forming rollers rotatably mounted on the extremities of said arms, guide. rollers angu-v larly positioned intermediate the ends 053- the arms, an annular cam positioned adjacent to said flyer and having a converging bore in e; gagementawith said, singularly positioned; rolle means for the periphery of th c er w thsai fo ng jqrlli rav and means or sensin U gideengular v 2954 1 93851. selle s n 7, a portion of said converging bore having a smaller diameter, whereby said forming rollers are urged inwardly into engagement with the periphery of said cover to thereby turn over an annular edge or said cover against a cylindrical article.

2. An apparatus for spinning covers on cylindrical articles, comprising a fluid operated press including a ram, a spring loaded support having a recess therein for receiving a formed cover and an article to which it is to be secured, said supporting means being aligned with the ram of said press, a flyer rotatably mounted on said supporting means and movable therewith, an annular cam positioned adjacent to said flyer, a

plurality of arms pivotally mounted on said flyer, spinning rollers rotatably mounted on said arms, guide rollers angularly positioned on the arms so as to rotatably engage the annular cam, and means for causing the press to urge the cover receiving means downwardly, whereby the arms are forced inwardly by the coaction of the guide rollers and the annular cam so that the spinning rollers turn over an annular flange on the cover.

3. Spinning apparatus, comprising a fluid operated press including a reciprocable ram, a spring loaded member in alignment with said ram and having a recess therein for receiving a cupshaped cover, a rotatably mounted flyer surrounding the spring loaded member and movable therewith, means for rotating the flyer, a stationary annular cam positioned coaxially with respect to the flyer, a plurality of arms pivotally mounted upon the flyer, rollers rotatably mounted upon the arms intermediate the ends thereof so as to engage the annular cam, and forming rollers mounted on the ends of the arms, whereby when the ram of the press is advanced into engagement With a cover positioned in the cover-receiving recess, the forming members are forced inwardly by the coaction of the rollers and the annular cam to cause the forming rollers to form an edge of the cover into a desired configuration.

4. An apparatus-for spinning covers on cylindrical articles, comprising a spring loaded support having a recess therein for receiving a cupshaped, circular cover and an associated cylindrical article to which the cover is to be sealed, a plurality of pivotally mounted arms, spinning rollers mounted on the extremities of said arms, guide rollers centrally positioned on said arms and inclined with respect thereto, an annular cam positioned adjacent to said arms and having a tapered bore therethrough, means for constantly revolving said arms to cause said guide rollers to engage the tapered bore of said cam, and means for urging the spring loaded support downwardly so as to bring the cover positioned therein adjacent to the spinning rollers and to urge the guide rollers downwardly in the tapered bore, whereby said spinning rollers are forced inwardly into engagement with the periphery of the cover so as to turn over its edge and seal the cover to the associated article.

5. Spinning apparatus, comprising means for resiliently supporting a formed cover during a spinning operation, said supporting means including a funnel shaped support and a pedestalshaped support resiliently positioned therein, said funnel-shaped support having an annular bevel adjacent to its periphery, a plurality of resiliently mounted spinning rollers, said spinning rollers having an irregularly shaped periphery comprising a forming shoulder adjacent to one face, an annular bevel adjacent to its opposite face and an undercut portion therebetween, means for constantly revolving said spinning rollers about said supporting means, means for disposing the supporting means and a cover positioned therein adjacent to said spinning rollers, and means for urging the spinning rollers inwardly so that the shoulder thereon engages the periphery of said cover, and the annular bevel thereon simultaneously engages the annular bevel of said supporting means, whereby the shoulder serves to turn over an annular flange on said cover and the coaction of the said beveled surfaces serves to urge the forming shoulder downwardly against said turned-over flange and to lift said funnel-shaped support when said annular flange is completely formed by said shoulder.

6. An apparatus for sealing covers on cylindrical articles, comprising a pedestal-shaped support having a recess provided therein for receiving a circular cover having an upright flanged portion in which a cylindrical article is positioned, a spring loaded support having a tubular body portion in which the pedestal-shaped support is resiliently carried, a base plate, a tubular support rigidly secured to the base plate and having a portion of they spring loaded support slidably positioned therein, a rotatable flyer, means for constantly rotating said flyer about the spring loaded support, a plurality of upright posts rig idly secured to said flyer, an arm pivotally mounted on each of said posts, an annular cam rigidly secured to said base plate and having a tapered bore therethrough, guide rollers angularly mounted on said arms and engaging a portion of said tapered bore, spinning rollers rotatably mounted on the extremities of said arms, and means for urging the pedestal-shaped support, the cover and an article positioned therein downwardly, whereby the tapered bore of said cam urges the pivotally mounted arms inwardly causing the spinning rollers carried thereby to engage the upright flanged portion of said cover and to turn over a portion of said flanged portion against a shoulder on the cylindrical article.

7. An apparatus for sealing circular covers on cylindrical articles, which comprises a pedestalshaped support having a recess therein for receiving a cover and an associated cylindrical article on which the cover is to be secured, a spring loaded support having a tubular body portion in which the pedestal-shaped support is resiliently positioned, means for permitting a predetermined travel between the pedestal-shaped support and the spring loaded support, means for providing a predetermined travel for the spring loaded support, a flyer rotatable about the spring loaded support, means for constantly rotating the flyer about said support, a plurality of pivotally mounted spinning memberscarriedby said flyer, each of spinning members including a guide roller positioned at the center thereof and a forming roller rotatably mounted at the end thereof, an annular cam having a converging bore in which said guide rollers constantly roll, means for urging the pedestal-shaped support downwardly, whereupon the cover is positioned adjacent to the forming rollers of the revolving spinning members, and means for causing the pedestal-shaped support and the spring loaded support to move as a unit, whereby the guide rollers are forced downwardly and engage a smaller diameter of the converging bore, thereby causing the forming rollers to engage the periphery of the cover and'turn over an annular flange thereof so as to seal it to the cylindrical article.

8. Spinning apparatus, comprising means for resiliently supporting a circular cover which is to be sealed on a cylindrical article, a plurality of pivotally mounted spinning members positioned coaxially with respect to and substantially below the supporting means, means for revolving the spinning members around the central of the supporting means, a forming roller rotatably and resiliently mounted on each of the spinning members, means for urging the supporting means downwardly against the resilient supporting means to position the periphery of said cover adjacent to said forming rollers, camming means for urging thespinning members inwardly after the supporting means is urged downwardly thereby causing the rollers to roll around the periphery of the cover and turn over an annular edge thereon, and means provided on the resiliently mounted supporting means for urging the forming rollers downwardly with respect to the arms against the turned-over annular edge of the cover so as to tightly seal the cover on the cylindrical article.

9. An apparatus for sealing covers on cylindrical articles, which comprises a resiliently mounted support having a recess therein for receiving a cover and an associated cylindrical article on which the cover is to be secured, a plurality of pivotally mounted arms, means for constantly revolving said arms about the central axis of the support, a stationary annular cam positioned coaxially adjacent with respect to the revolving arms and having a tapered bore therethrough, a forming roller positioned on each of the arms, guide roller positioned on each of said arms so as to engage the tapered bore of said annular cam, and means for successively urging the support downwardly to first position said support and the periphery of the cover positioned therein REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 146,947 Perkins Jan. 27, 1874 149,599 Neumann 1 Apr. 14, 1874 373,150 Mungiven Nov. 15, 1887 471,925 Whitaker Mar. 29, 1892 733,678 Reinert July 14, 1903 1,167,350 Brenzinger Jan. 4, 1916 1,743,475 Parish Jan. 14, 1930 1,819,250 Lange Aug. 18, 1931 1,865,144 Sebell June 28, 1932 2,113,257 Schwartz Apr. 5, 1938 2,152,571 Schmidt Mar. 28, 1939 2,237,614 Perrone Apr. 8, 1941 2,391,319 Kronquest Dec. 18, 1945 

